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Duluth man faces felony charges for battling police

A Duluth man accused of struggling with investigators in Superior faces arraignment on felony charges following a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Douglas County Circuit Court.

Todd Richard Carter, 39, faces felony disarming a peace officer, two counts of felony battery of a peace officer and misdemeanor obstructing an officer stemming from a Nov. 13 incident in Superior.

According to the criminal complaint:

Investigators from the Superior Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff's Office spotted Carter on North 14th Street as he entered a vehicle. He was wanted on a warrant issued in May after failing to appear in Carlton County court on a drug charge. The investigators followed the car to a nearby parking lot at Belknap and Cedar streets and approached Carter as he got out of his vehicle. He initially claimed ignorance, failed to comply with orders to keep his hands visible, returned to the driver's seat and lunged for the ignition.

One of the officers was able to wrestle the keys from his hand and throw them out of the vehicle. Carter eventually exited through the passenger side door. A foot chase resulted in officers tackling Carter near North 14th Street. Police reports indicate Carter reached for an officer's gun, grabbed another officer's neck and fought for three minutes before he was subdued.

A Taser was used to help end the struggle. One of the officers, Douglas County Investigator Dan Howe, was administered oxygen and transported to the hospital due to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.